Barangay chief’s brother, 5 others fall in drug busts

CEBU, Philippines - Six men including the brother of a barangay captain were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu on Friday and early yesterday.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 arrested on Friday 34-year-old Stephen Ando in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cogon, Cordova.

Ando, brother of Cogon barangay captain Francisco Ando Jr., reportedly yielded at least 186 packs of suspected shabu weighing more or less 250 grams and worth P625,000.

The PDEA-7 said that the suspect is a major player of illegal drugs in Cordova.

The suspect, who was placed under one-month surveillance prior to his arrest, can allegedly dispose of around half kilo of shabu per week.

Around 5 p.m. last Friday, PDEA-7 agents placed Ando under arrest when the suspect allegedly handed over a pack of shabu after receiving the P200 buy-bust money from the poseur-buyer.

Complaints for dangerous drugs sale and possession, both violations of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspect.

Meanwhile, the barangay captain appeared at Cordova Police Station at around 6:30 p.m. on the same day to complain about his brother's arrest.

Police Officer 3 Renante Marababol of Cordova Police Station said Ando, Jr. reported that PDEA-7 entered the house of his father Francisco Ando, Sr. and arrested his brother without showing any documents.

Ando Jr. further alleged that the wooden cabinet inside the house of his father was destroyed by the operatives.

He also alleged that the PDEA-7 agents also stole P10,000 cash that was intended as capital for their seashell business.

Consolacion

On the same day, operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch and station policemen arrested an alleged drug pusher in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lamac, Consolacion.

Suspect Bryan Pepito reportedly yielded 41 packs of suspected shabu in various sizes weighing 24 grams and amounting to P283,000, as per Dangerous Drugs Board's estimates.

Police also seized from the suspect the P200 buy-bust money and P200 cash believed to be drug proceeds.

The suspect is now detained awaiting drug charges to be filed against him.

Minglanilla

In another buy-bust operation in Barangay Tubod, Minglanilla, police arrested yesterday dawn an alleged 17-year-old drug pusher.

A pack of suspected shabu, four pieces of aluminum tin foil, a disposable lighter and P300 cash were reportedly confiscated from the minor.

PO3 Roberto Rondina of Minglanilla Police Station said they only knew that the suspect was a minor after the arrest.

The suspect was referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper disposition.

Rondina said the suspect will face appropriate charges in court.

Lapu-lapu city

Meanwhile, a 47-year-old man was also arrested in buy-bust operation in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City last Friday afternoon.

Arrested was John Lopez, a resident of the area.

Chief Inspector Felix Cleopas III of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- Station 5 said Lopez handed a sachet of suspected shabu to their police poseur-buyer in exchange for P300 cash.

The poseur-buyer then revealed his identity and immediately arrested Lopez, who did not resist, according to Cleopas.

Seized from Lopez were 11 small sachets and two medium-size packs of shabu that weigh 1.065 grams with an estimated value of P12,300. Assorted drug paraphernalia were also reportedly seized from the suspect.

On that same day, hours earlier, authorities also arrested two men who were alleged to be "business partners" in the illegal drug trade in Purok Manga, Barangay Canjulao.

Chief Inspector Jaime Tolentino of LCPO-Station 3 said that Rexter Berdin, 35, and neighbor Reynaldo Corvera, 36, were arrested around 2:30 a.m. in the area. Seized from the suspect were illegal drugs worth P30,000. (FREEMAN)